Bulb holding plate



P 1961 T. G. scoNzo 3,000,511

BULB HOLDING PLATE Filed Jan. 30, 1959 ONVENTOR THQMAS G. SQONZO ATTORNEYS 3,000,511 BULB HOLDING PLATE Thomas G. Sconzo, Macon St., Sayville, NY. Filed Jan. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 790,104 1 Claim. (Cl. 21126) This invention relates to a bulb holding plate. More particularly, it relates to an attachable plate adapted to hold bulbs and their sockets perpendicularly with respect to the face of the plate.

It is noted that when a plurality of electric light bulbs are used for decorative purposes they usually extend from their sockets in a haphazard manner. Also, such sockets and bulbs are diificult to arrange 'in a methodical manner because of lack of a base for fixing the same in a symmetrical manner. This is particularly noticeable where Christmas bulbs and sockets are arranged around windows or the outline of houses particularly indicated in suburban areas. It is necessary to arrange and rearrange the bulbs and sockets to obtain an orderly appearance.

With the above disadvantages in view it is an object of the present invention to provide an easily attachable member adapted to hold light sockets and bulbs in an orderly manner relative to their position of installation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plate member having a plurality of openings therein adapted to permit fastening of the member onto a wall with a minimum of handling.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a plate like member having a plurality of openings and bends to permit spaced arrangement and attachment thereof to a wall whereby the wiring and socket of a light bulb is easily accommodated and held firmly by the plate.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end View of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a composite view showing the embodiment attached to a wall and having mounted thereon a decorative bulb with its socket showing said light bulb and socket extending perpendicularly from the embodiment, and

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment in a different position relative to a wall or backing.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like members refer to like parts throughout, there is provided according to my invention a plate or member of any suitable width and length. At each end 11 and 12 respectively of said plate, I provide openings 13 of such size to permit the plate to be attached or fixed to a nail or screw 14 as shown in the drawings. Furthermore, the openings have a smaller opening 15 extending from the larger opening 13 so that the member freely rests on the shaft of said nail or screw 14. The use of the end openings 13 permit attachment of the member 10 vertically whereas a middle opening 16 is provided to permit horizontal hanging or attachment of the member. It will be noted that there may be provided several openings along its horizontal edges so that the member 10 depending upon its length can be securely attached by a plurality of nails or screws.

As shown in the drawings, the plate 10 is provided with a central concave portion 17, a central opening 1 8 and a plurality of spaced retainers or fingers 19 ex tending outwardly and inwardly from the body of the plate member 10. Said opening .18 as set in the concaved portidn of plate 10 is adapted to snugly accommodate the base or end of a socket 20,, while retainers '19 extending from the member are springy and in relatively spaced apart relation with the face of member 10 to permit easy holding of the insulation wires 21 and 22, extending from the socket 20. Furthermore, the concave portion 17 of plate 10 accommodates the wires of socket 20 on either side thereof.

It is to be noted that the concave portion, the openings 13 and 16 are adapted to be in the sameplane while the retainers .19 are in another plane spaced apart from the portion 17. In order to permit the plate to lie flush against a wall there are provided extensions 23 which project re-arwardly of the face of the plate so that the ends of the extensions are flush with the rear face of the concave 17. By this construction, the plate stays flat against a wall 24 rather than at a slant.

A device as illustrated and described herein can be readily adjusted to any type of surface. Furthermore, as made it snugly holds a socket and the wiring securely thereto so that when decorating for example, a store front or the front of a building structure the lights may be effectively and readily attached to the structure in a neat manner without requiring detailed adjustment of the bulbs so that they extend uniformly outward from the front of the structure. It will be noted that said member as embodied in the invention can be of any desired length with any desired number of openings to permit ready attachment to a surface. Also, the member may be laid vertically or horizontally against the supporting wall.

While a preferred form of the invention has been described and illustrated it is to be understood that modifications as to form, arrangement and use of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

A plate member adapted to be readily aflixed to a nail or screw extending from a wall surface, said member being further adapted to hold a decorative bulb or the like, and having terminal openings at opposed ends of its longitudinal axis and at least one marginal opening at its central vertical axis for accommodating a nail head and affixing the plate to the wall, said plate further having an opening at an area intersecting its longitudinal and vertical axis for holding a bulb socket, said socket having conducting wires extending therefrom,

and retainer means extending outwardly and upwardly.

of the plate and on either side of the central opening to accommodate said conducting wires.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 466,932 Cornell Jan. 12, 1892 794,070 Assel July 4, 1905 1,219,685 Wall Mar. 20, 1917 1,771,444 Monk July 29, 1930 1,901,470 Pliske Mar. 14, 1933 2,053,262 Cornell Sept. 8, 1936 2,762,597 Jaworski Sept. 11, 1956 2,857,506 Minteer Oct. 21, 1958 2,873,082 Gillespie Feb. 10, 1959 2,889,451 Longo June 2, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,808 Great Britain Feb. 27, 1906 

